Old Portland Houses

Portland has several sections of old houses, many of which remind you of the ones in San Francisco. Photo: Block of old houses.

Old Portland Houses

Old Portland Houses

There is a Kerry Edwards sign in the window.

Old Portland Houses

Old Portland Houses

Old house.

Old Portland Houses

Old Portland Houses

Another of the old houses.

Old Portland Houses

Old Portland Houses

And another.

Old Portland Houses

Old Portland Houses

This photo was taken in a different section of Portland and at a different time of the day from the photos above.

Old Portland Houses

Old Portland Houses

And another.

Old Portland Houses

Portland

Entering the downtown area of Portland.

Portland

Portland

View of downtown Portland from the parking lot steps. Spring is slowly arriving in Oregon. Already, there are the early spring daffodils and also forsythia in bloom. Merrie told me that there are dogwood trees and lilacs here. Oregon should be absolutely beautiful in about another month or so. I always thought that the trees and shrubs that I mentioned only grew in the eastern U.S. So, if you can’t go back east to see an “eastern spring,” now you know that you can just go to Oregon to see one.

Portland

Portland

The Portland light rail. Photo taken on street level.

Portland

Portland

We walked from the parking lot toward the Waterfront Park and saw this sign.

Portland

Portland

We walked past where the peace rally was to be held. It was now 1 p.m.––1/2 hour before the rally was to begin. We didn’t expect it to draw many people considering the few people who were now at the rally site.

Portland

Portland

These 8 policemen on bicycles were the only police presence that we saw in this area.

Portland

Portland

Merrie and I continued our walk along the Willamette River waterfront.

Portland

Portland

Historic building in this area.

Portland

Saturday Market

Our destination was the Saturday Market, which is held on both Saturday and Sunday and also on weekdays during the Christmas season. The photos that I have put on are ones of the somewhat oddball booths and some interesting people at the market. However, there are also many mainstream booths as well, but I didn’t include them here as they are not as picturesque. Merrie and I did find some things to buy––a dress and earrings to go with it and some paper flowers for Merrie and a pants suit and travel bag for me. It was a fun place to walk around. This booth: Tree Hugger Folk Art. Mary is in the blue jacket on the left of the photo.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Art work.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Balloon man.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Another balloon man.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Hair braiding.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Palm reader.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Time for lunch. Merrie and I both had gyros––delicious. We didn’t try the smoothies or bubble tea (and I do not know what bubble tea is).

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Elephant ears for sale here.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Merrie knew what an elephant ear was and suggested that we split one. We had ours dipped into powdered sugar. It tasted like a churro (a Mexican fried pastry) and was delicious.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

African art.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Street performer.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Another street performer.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Material Girl street car.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

A cool dog.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

This cool dog is worth another photo.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Back to the ’60s.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Doggie water fountain––I saw the dog drinking from the fountain.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market

Spirit Song flutes. We would have walked around the market longer––it was quite large––but the vendor who Merrie just bought a pair of earrings from got up from her chair and told us she going to rush to see her son marching in the Peace March. She was so excited about it we thought that we would tag along with her.

Saturday Market

Peace March

We stood on the grassy medium to view the march. We were quite incorrect in our assumption that this was going to be a small rally and march. The estimate of attendance was between 8000 and 9000. The march extended back as far as our eyes could see. Quite a sight.

Peace March

Peace March

People of all ages were marching.

Peace March

Peace March

And of very old ages.

Peace March

Peace March

Merrie and I were able to find an opening to reach the sidewalk and we watched the march for a while longer. This man on stilts posed for me.

Peace March

Peace March

Back to the 60s again.

Peace March

Peace March

Mennonites for Peace.

Peace March

Peace March

Peace Church of the Brethen. Many religious groups were marching.

Peace March

Peace March

Scotsman for peace.

Peace March

Peace March

Note the duck heads at the end of the gun barrels.

Peace March

Pioneer Courthouse Square

There were still thousands of marchers behind the marchers who we had been watching. We left our viewing spot and headed to the Pioneer Courthouse Square, riding the light rail most of the way there. Forty–five thousand bricks have been laid here. You can make a contribution and have your name on one of the bricks. Merrie and her family have bricks here with their names on them, but she doesn’t know their locations.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Buildings on the square.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

The Pioneer Courthouse, dating back to the 1880s. It is the second oldest federal courthouse west of the Mississippi.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Mounted police in front of the courthouse. They were probably in formation here as the peace march had just about reached Pioneer Courthouse Square (we did not know their route and was surprised to see them again––this was quite a long walk for them to have taken).

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

We again watched the peace march from our seats in the Starbucks on the square.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Food stands on the square.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

I would call this statue in the square the “rain man,” but its official name is “Allow Me.”

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Interesting direction and mileage sign on the square.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Walden Pond––2530 miles from here.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Tipperary––A long way!

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Chess players on the square.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Portland

Sea lions seen on our walk back to the parking lot. There is much public art in downtown Portland and you can take an interesting walk around the city to view it.

Portland

Portland

It took us a long time to get out of the parking lot as the peace march was over and the marchers were also trying to get out of the lot at the same time as we were. We next went to the gigantic Powell’s Bookstore and headed to the inclusive travel book section and we both picked up some additional books on Spain and some Spanish city maps. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant this night with another daughter of Merrie and her daughter’s boyfriend. Merrie had treated me to another great day. Photo: more of Portland’s public art across from Powell’s Bookstore.

Portland